The president met with some of Silicon Valley's brightest stars at a private dinner to talk about the economy and how to create more jobs.

Image Gallery: On the California Campaign Trail

In addition to the local techies, several California politicians raced to meet with the president, including former San Francisco mayor and current Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris.

But one politician noticeably absent from the festivities was one politician who may actually have more to do with creating jobs than any Silicon Valley type.

Modern Day Propaganda

Gov. Jerry Brown elected to skip a photo opportunity with the president Thursday. His spokesman told the Los Angeles Times that the governor simply didn't have enough time because he is so busy trying to balance the state's budget.

The move was not meant as a snub. After all Mr. Obama gave Brown a strong endorsement during his bid for governor.

Behind the Scenes of the Governor Debate

However the dinner may have been a good opportunity for Brown to lobby the president to support some of his cost-cutting measures.